C. T. Wilson

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C. T. Wilson
Wilson in 2024
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 28th district
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Preceded byMurray Levy
Personal details
Born (1972-02-20) February 20, 1972 (age 52)
Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseNicole
Children3
EducationUpper Iowa University (BA)
Howard University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1990–1997

C. T. Wilson (born February 20, 1972) is an American politician and attorney who has represented District 28 in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2011.

Background[edit]

Wilson was born in Missouri. An orphan, he lived in several foster homes as a child. Wilson has stated he was sexually abused and repeatedly raped by his adoptive father, Tom Wilson, while in foster care from the ages of 9 to 15.[1][2]

He graduated from Freeburg Community High School in Freeburg, Illinois. After high school, at 18, he enlisted as a combat soldier in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1997.[3] He served in the Persian Gulf and Bosnia Herzegovina in both combat and medical units.[2] Wilson later graduated cum laude from Upper Iowa University with a B.A. in psychology. He then went on to the Howard University School of Law where he earned a J.D. in 2003, and was admitted to Maryland Bar.[3] After graduating, he helped organize the Community Prosecution Unit of the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office.[2]

He is a Maryland Foster Youth Resource Center boardmember and a National Eagle Scout Association member. He and his wife Nicole have three daughters.[3]

In 2014, Wilson's book, 10,000 Hills: One Boy's Journey was published by CreateSpace. The book follows Wilson's early life story and the sexual abuse he faced from his adoptive father.[4]

In the legislature[edit]

Wilson in the Economic Matters Committee, 2024

Wilson has been a member of House of Delegates since January 12, 2011. He is the first Black man elected delegate in Charles County.[3][2][5] Wilson served as the chair on the Business Regulations Subcommittee under the Economic Matters Committee. He is a member of the Southern Maryland Delegation and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. He previously served as the House Chair of the Maryland Veterans Caucus.[3] In December 2021, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones appointed Wilson chairman of the House Economic Matters Committee, succeeding Delegate Dereck E. Davis.[6]

Political positions[edit]

Education[edit]

During the 2021 legislative session, Wilson introduced legislation to require the Maryland State Board of Education to create statewide standards for teaching Black history to public school students.[7] The bill was reintroduced during the 2022 legislative session.[8]

In 2022, Wilson opposed legislation to break up the College of Southern Maryland to create a new Charles County Community College.[9]

Elections[edit]

In 2016, Wilson voted against overriding Governor Larry Hogan's veto on legislation that would restore voting rights to felons on parole and probation.[10]

Justice[edit]

Wilson opposed legislation to repeal the death penalty in Maryland, saying, "I wish we did not need the death penalty... but I've seen the worst of the worst, and I know it's necessary."[11] During the debate on the bill in 2013, Wilson opposed an amendment to keep execution as an option for those who kill after being sentenced to death or life in prison. The amendment failed by a 61-77 vote.[12]

[edit]

Wilson introduced legislation in the 2022 legislative session to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to all Maryland workers. During a hearing on the bill, he introduced an amendment to replace the bill with a commission to investigate how to implement a statewide paid family leave program.[13] The bill was later restored and passed with an effective date of 2025 in a compromise with Wilson.[14] The bill became law after the General Assembly voted to override Governor Larry Hogan's veto on April 9, 2022.[15][16]

Policing[edit]

Following the 2015 Baltimore protests, Wilson called on finding a "middle ground" on police reform legislation.[17] During the 2021 legislative session, Wilson introduced legislation requiring police officers to identify themselves and notify individuals of their right to refuse to speak or provide information during a traffic stop.[18]

Social issues[edit]

Wilson opposed a bill introduced in the 2011 legislative session to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland,[19] saying "I'm taking the courageous stance. I have not had a chance to take this to my constitutes and get their opinion."[20]

Wilson introduced legislation in the 2012 legislative session to make it a felony offense to transfer knowingly, or attempt to transfer, HIV to another person.[21][22]

During the 2014 legislative session, Wilson introduced a resolution to urge the owners of the Washington Redskins to change the football team's name to something that "is not offensive to Native Americans or any other group".[23]

Wilson introduced legislation in the 2015 legislative session to make March 30 "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day". The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on March 30, 2015.[24]

During the 2017 legislative session, Wilson introduced legislation extending the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases from age 25 to age 38. The bill was introduced in previous legislative sessions but was blocked by Catholic Church lobbyists and Delegate Joseph F. Vallario Jr., the chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on April 4, 2017.[25] In 2019, he introduced a bill to abolish the statute of limitations on child sexual assault cases,[26] which the Senate Judiciary Committee later voted down after passing the House of Delegates by a vote of 135–3.[27] Later that day, the House Judiciary Committee agreed to include compromise provisions in legislation introduced by Senator Justin Ready, including one to increase the statute of limitations to the age of 58.[28] He re-introduced, and later withdrew, this bill during the 2021 legislative session.[29][30]

In 2021, he supported legislation that would lower the state's age of mental health consent to 12 years old.[31]

Members of the General Assembly, Attorney General Anthony Brown, and advocates stand around Governor Wes Moore and House Speaker Adrienne Jones as he signs the Child Victims Act.
Wilson (center left) and others join Governor Wes Moore for the signing of the Maryland Child Victims Act, 2023

In November 2022, following the conclusion of a years-long investigation by the Attorney General of Maryland into accusations of sexual assault in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, Wilson introduced the Maryland Child Victims Act, a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits and create a "look back window" to allow survivors to file lawsuits alleging past sexual abuse.[32] The Maryland Catholic Conference, who had previously lobbied against bills eliminating the statute of limitations, said that they would support eliminating the statute of limitations but opposed provisions of the bill creating the look back window.[33][34] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore on April 11, 2023.[35]

Electoral history[edit]

Maryland House of Delegates district 28 Democratic primary election, 2010[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sally Y. Jameson 7,507 25.4
Democratic Peter Murphy 6,444 21.8
Democratic C. T. Wilson 5,666 19.1
Democratic Gary V. Hodge 3,335 11.3
Democratic Jim Easter 3,155 10.7
Democratic Bud Humbert 2,475 8.4
Democratic Craig James Hickerson 1,016 3.4
Maryland House of Delegates district 28 general election, 2010[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sally Y. Jameson 28,092 23.6
Democratic Peter Murphy 26,006 21.9
Democratic C. T. Wilson 23,619 19.9
Republican Kirk W. Bowie 14,577 12.3
Republican Mike Phillips 13,750 11.6
Republican Daniel D. Richards 12,844 10.8
Write-in 69 0.1
Maryland House of Delegates district 28 Democratic primary election, 2014[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic C. T. Wilson 8,302 25.9
Democratic Sally Y. Jameson 7,249 22.6
Democratic Edith J. Patterson 6,644 20.7
Democratic Candice Quinn Kelly 5,966 18.6
Democratic John Coller 3,913 12.2
Maryland House of Delegates district 28 general election, 2014[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sally Y. Jameson 25,811 28.7
Democratic C. T. Wilson 24,202 26.9
Democratic Edith J. Patterson 21,421 23.8
Republican Jim Crawford 17,312 19.2
Republican John C. Ford (write-in) 913 1.0
Write-in 419 0.5
Maryland House of Delegates district 28 Democratic primary election, 2018[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edith J. Patterson 10,346 27.4
Democratic C. T. Wilson 10,053 26.6
Democratic Debra Davis 8,725 23.1
Democratic Edward Holland 4,561 12.1
Democratic John Coller 4,043 10.7
Maryland House of Delegates district 28 general election, 2018[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Davis 34,236 23.8
Democratic Edith J. Patterson 33,383 23.2
Democratic C. T. Wilson 32,793 22.8
Republican Jim Crawford 15,059 10.5
Republican Dave Campbell 15,010 10.4
Republican Maureen Janette Woodruff 13,318 9.3
Write-in 159 0.1

Bibliography[edit]

  • 10,000 Hills : one boy's journey, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014. ISBN 9781495463235

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dvorak, Petula (April 7, 2016). "A Maryland lawmaker raped as a child can't get his bill for sex assault survivors passed". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Sessa-Hawkins, Margaret (March 19, 2014). "From a childhood of abuse to state delegate: C.T. Wilson's painful story". MarylandReporter.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "C. T. Wilson, Maryland State Delegate". Msa.maryland.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  4. ^ Dvorak, Petula (April 6, 2023). "To combat child sex abuse, this lawmaker deploys a searing story: His own". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Williams, Shernay (December 15, 2010). "The New Black Delegates". Baltimore Afro-American. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 9, 2021). "After Half a Lifetime in the House, Dereck Davis to Become Md. Treasurer". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (January 28, 2021). "Bill Seeks to Teach Black History Differently in Md. Schools". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (January 21, 2022). "Bill Would Require Md. Schools to Teach More Diverse History Lessons". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Kurtz, Josh (February 2, 2022). "Senator Stands Alone in Fight Over Regional Community College". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (January 20, 2016). "Maryland House overrides three of Gov. Hogan's vetoes". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Wagner, John (March 15, 2013). "Md. House of Delegates votes to repeal death penalty; bill goes to O'Malley next". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Wagner, John (March 13, 2013). "Maryland House advances repeal of death penalty after defeating several exceptions". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (March 14, 2022). "In Setback for Advocates, House Committee Considering Establishing a Commission on Paid Family Leave". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (March 30, 2022). "House Passes Statewide Paid Leave Program". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  15. ^ DePuyt, Bruce; Gaines, Danielle (April 8, 2022). "Hogan Vetoes Abortion and Paid Family Leave Bills, Allows Climate Measure to Become Law". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Gaines, Danielle; Gaskill, Hannah; Leckrone, Bennett; Shwe, Elizabeth (April 9, 2022). "With Legislative Overrides, Paid Leave and Abortion Access Bills Become Law in Maryland". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (August 24, 2015). "After Baltimore riots, changes to police 'bill of rights' sought". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 10, 2021). "Jones' Sweeping Police Workgroup Bill Receives Criticism From the ACLU". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  19. ^ Melloy, Kilian (July 13, 2011). "In Maryland, Fight for Marriage Parity Continues". EDGE Media Network. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Wagner, John (March 11, 2011). "Maryland House derails bill that would legalize same-sex marriage". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  21. ^ Chibbaro, Lou (March 9, 2012). "Md. Legislative Black Caucus, ACLU at odds over HIV 'criminalization' bill". The Washington Blade. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Anderson, Jessica (September 10, 2012). "Maryland man faces rarely used HIV transmission charges". The Washington Post. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  23. ^ Johnson, Jenna (March 11, 2014). "Maryland delegates propose resolution urging Redskins to change team name". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Johnson, Jenna (March 30, 2015). "Md. Gov. Larry Hogan signs his first law, honoring Vietnam War veterans". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Hicks, Josh; Wiggins, Ovetta (April 4, 2017). "As a child, he was raped. As a lawmaker, he ensured victims had more time to sue". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  26. ^ Cox, Erin (March 16, 2019). "Md. bill would make it easier for child sexual abuse victims to sue Catholic Church". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  27. ^ Gaines, Danielle (April 5, 2019). "Emotional Wilson Reflects on Failed Predator Bill". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  28. ^ Gaines, Danielle (April 5, 2019). "With Maneuver, House Panel Tries to Move Laura & Reid's Law and Hidden Predator Act Together". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  29. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (February 5, 2021). "Zirkin Returns to Old Committee to Testify Against Wilson's Child Sex Abuse Bill". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (March 16, 2021). "Del. Wilson Withdraws Controversial Bill to Alter the Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse". Maryland Matters. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  31. ^ Wiggins, Ovetta (April 8, 2021). "Maryland advances bill that lowers age of mental health consent to 12 years old". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  32. ^ O'Neill, Madeleine (November 27, 2022). "Statute of limitations reform will top civil law reform in 2023 session". The Daily Record. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  33. ^ Gessler, Paul (December 20, 2022). "Maryland Catholic Church supports partial lifting of statute of limitations in sex abuse civil cases". CBS Baltimore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  34. ^ Janesch, Sam; Pitts, Jonathan M. (December 20, 2022). "Maryland Catholic Conference will support bill to eliminate statute of limitations, but only for future cases of abuse". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  35. ^ Gaskill, Hannah; Sanderlin, Lee O. (April 11, 2023). "Lawmakers, advocates celebrate Child Victims Act being signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  37. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  38. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  39. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  40. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  41. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2022-06-02.

External links[edit]

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